Protection of least chub habitat would benefit several other imperiled species, including the Columbia spotted frog and the Ute ladies' tresses orchid.

Action timeline

September 29, 1995 – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed to list the least chub as an endangered species and to include critical habitat designation.

March 15, 1999 – The Center filed a lawsuit against the Service for the agency's foot-dragging in regard to endangered species protection for the least chub. Bowing to political pressure, the Service eventually announced a ruling that denied protection for the fish.

June 19, 2007 – The Center, Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation, Great Basin chapter of Trout Unlimited, and Utah chapter of the Sierra Club filed a petition to protect the least chub as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.

October 1, 2008 – The Center, Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation, and Great Basin chapter of Trout Unlimited filed a formal notice of intent to sue the administration for failing to respond to our petition to protect the chub.

June 21, 2010 – In response to the Center's petition and litigation, the Fish and Wildlife Service declared that the least chub warrants protection — but said such protection was precluded by higher-priority species, putting the fish on the “candidate list” to await Endangered Species Act status indefinitely.